Deportivo La Coruña 0–1 Real Madrid: Brahim Díaz Decides a Tight Battle at Riazor
Real Madrid defeated Deportivo La Coruña 1–0 at Riazor to win the 2026 Teresa Herrera Trophy, with Brahim Díaz scoring the decisive goal.
🏆 Real Madrid Edge Deportivo 1–0 to Lift the Teresa Herrera Trophy
Real Madrid left Riazor with another trophy after beating Deportivo La Coruña 1–0 in a tightly contested pre-season friendly.
It was not the kind of match where Real Madrid dominated from beginning to end. Deportivo made life difficult for José Mourinho's side, defending with discipline and creating enough moments to keep the home supporters believing in an equaliser.
But when the decisive opportunity arrived, Real Madrid took it.
And the player who made the difference was Brahim Díaz.
The Moroccan international struck just before half-time after an impressive long pass from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, giving Madrid the lead and ultimately securing the Teresa Herrera Trophy. Real Madrid's official report confirms that this was the club's tenth triumph in the competition and their first appearance in the tournament since 2013.
⚽ Match Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Competition | Teresa Herrera Trophy |
| 📅 Date | August 12, 2026 |
| 🏟️ Stadium | Riazor, A Coruña |
| 🇪🇸 Deportivo | 0 |
| 🇪🇸 Real Madrid | 1 |
| ⚽ Scorer | Brahim Díaz |
| ⏱️ Goal | 45+2' |
🔥 A Quiet Opening at Riazor
The match began with an atmosphere that felt considerably more intense than a normal pre-season friendly.
Deportivo were playing at home, and the Riazor crowd wanted to see their team compete against one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, were still finding their rhythm during pre-season.
Mourinho's side tried to establish control through possession, while Deportivo looked comfortable defending in a compact shape and waiting for opportunities to attack quickly.
The home side's organisation prevented Madrid from creating a succession of clear chances.
Real Madrid had possession, but Deportivo had the kind of defensive discipline that made every attacking move difficult.
🧤 Lunin Turns Provider
The decisive moment arrived just before the interval.
And it came from an unlikely source.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin launched a superb long pass forward, finding Brahim Díaz in an advanced position.
Brahim controlled the situation brilliantly before finishing to put Madrid ahead.
Deportivo 0–1 Real Madrid.
It was a goal that demonstrated why football can change in a single second.
Lunin, who had spent much of the evening without being seriously tested, suddenly became the creator of the decisive moment.
The connection between goalkeeper and attacker produced the only goal of the night.
Half-Time
Deportivo La Coruña 0–1 Real Madrid
⚡ Deportivo Refuse to Give Up
The goal could easily have changed the character of the match.
Instead, Deportivo continued to compete.
The Spanish side increased the pressure after the restart and looked for opportunities to test the Madrid defence.
Real Madrid were forced to remain disciplined.
Rather than constantly chasing a second goal, Madrid were increasingly concerned with protecting their narrow advantage.
That made the second half particularly interesting.
Deportivo had the motivation of playing in front of their own supporters.
Madrid had the experience of knowing how to manage a one-goal lead.
🧱 Real Madrid Defend Their Advantage
As the minutes disappeared, Deportivo continued searching for an equaliser.
Real Madrid's defensive structure remained compact, while their midfield worked to prevent the hosts from creating clean shooting opportunities.
The match became increasingly physical and fragmented, with substitutions also affecting the rhythm.
For Madrid, the priority was simple:
Do not give Deportivo the chance to make the score 1–1.
And they succeeded.
The final whistle eventually confirmed a narrow but valuable victory.
Deportivo 0–1 Real Madrid.
⭐ Brahim Díaz Steals the Spotlight
Brahim was undoubtedly the decisive player.
The Moroccan international showed sharp movement and composure when the opportunity arrived, producing the only finish that separated the two teams.
His goal also continued his strong connection with Madrid's attacking group.
For Moroccan supporters, seeing Brahim decide another Real Madrid match is another reminder of the attacking quality he can provide.
🧤 Lunin's Unusual Contribution
Lunin deserves special recognition as well.
The goalkeeper did not need to make a series of spectacular saves, but his contribution to the goal was outstanding.
His long distribution created the opening from which Brahim scored.
According to reports following the match, Lunin himself joked about not knowing just how quickly Díaz could move onto his pass.
It was a perfect example of how modern goalkeepers can influence matches beyond traditional shot-stopping.
🧠 Tactical Analysis
⚪ Real Madrid
Madrid's approach was relatively controlled.
The team focused on possession, maintaining a solid defensive structure and attempting to exploit spaces through individual quality.
The winning goal demonstrated another important element: direct distribution from deep.
Tactical Rating: ⭐ 8.7/10
Madrid were not spectacular, but they were efficient and disciplined.
🔵 Deportivo La Coruña
Deportivo deserve credit for making the match competitive.
Their defensive organisation frustrated Real Madrid for long periods, while their reaction after half-time showed character.
The major problem was the lack of efficiency in the final third.
Tactical Rating: ⭐ 8.3/10
A competitive performance despite the narrow defeat.
🏆 What the Victory Means
For Real Madrid, the victory provides another positive step during pre-season.
More importantly, the club lifted the Teresa Herrera Trophy for the tenth time, according to the official Real Madrid report.
The match also continued Madrid's unbeaten start to their current pre-season campaign, with the club recording two wins and one draw from their opening three friendlies.
For Deportivo, the defeat was disappointing, but the performance offered plenty of encouragement against elite opposition.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Deportivo La Coruña 0–1 Real Madrid was not a five-goal thriller.
It did not need to be.
Sometimes a football match is decided by one moment of quality.
At Riazor, that moment belonged to Brahim Díaz.
A brilliant long pass from Lunin.
A composed finish from Brahim.
One goal.
One trophy.
And another useful pre-season test for Real Madrid.
The final score may look simple, but the match provided Mourinho with another opportunity to assess his squad before the competitive season begins.
For Deportivo, there was no trophy at the end of the night.
For Real Madrid, there was another piece of silverware—and another reminder that even in pre-season, decisive moments matter.
Real Madrid – Official Match Report: Real Madrid wins the Teresa Herrera Trophy
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